Police chiefs failed to tackle racism due to lack of leadership- report finds

An independent review has concluded that efforts by police leaders in England and Wales to address racial bias have largely fallen short, citing weak national leadership and resistance within forces.

The findings come five years after senior officers pledged reforms following the global Black Lives Matter movement. At the time, policing leaders introduced a race action plan aimed at tackling discriminatory treatment and improving the experiences of Black communities.

However, the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board (ISOB), which was set up to monitor progress, reported that the initiative has had little real impact. According to the board, improvements have been inconsistent and heavily reliant on individual efforts rather than systemic change.

Abimbola Johnson, who chairs the ISOB, said the promises made in 2020 have not been fulfilled. She emphasized that progress has been slow and uneven, warning that without strong institutional reforms, meaningful change will remain out of reach.

The report highlights internal police culture as a major obstacle, suggesting that resistance within forces has significantly hindered reform efforts. It argues that external oversight alone cannot drive change if the culture within policing remains unwilling to evolve.

Criticism has also emerged over the financial cost of the initiative. The National Black Police Association described the programme as a £10 million failure, claiming it has not improved the day-to-day experiences of Black individuals interacting with police.

Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, acknowledged that progress has fallen short of expectations. While he pointed to some improvements—such as a reduction in racial disparities in stop-and-search practices—he admitted that deeper, structural change has not been achieved.

A key issue identified in the report is the lack of agreement among police leaders on whether institutional racism exists. Only a small number of forces accept this characterization, despite longstanding findings dating back to the 1999 Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

The ISOB is now being disbanded, with its final report urging the government to take a more active role. It recommends introducing stronger legal obligations, clearer accountability measures, and tougher consequences for failure.

Former senior officer Neil Basu also voiced concern, warning that progress on racial justice in policing may be reversing. He suggested that without urgent action, the situation risks deteriorating further.

The Home Office has said it will review the report’s recommendations, acknowledging that more work is needed to ensure fair and equitable policing.

Overall, the report paints a troubling picture of stalled reform, highlighting the gap between promises made and meaningful change delivered.